So you and your partner have decided to take the great leap by moving in together. While this is twice as exhilarating, you should understand that moving in together is more than a change of place – it is a process. Since it is a process, you need a systematic approach. Here’s a quick guide for moving in together successfully:
Step 1: Take an inventory of all your stuff
The first thing that you need to do is to take an inventory of all your stuff and your partner’s. You will likely find things that are duplicates between two homes – two coffee tables, two coffee maker, two dressers, two sofas, etc.
With this, it is important that you figure out what you have, what to keep, what to sell and what to donate. Sometimes it is tempting to put off these thoughts until after the move but you should avoid this. Keep in mind that everything you keep likely adds to the cost of the move.
Step 2: Decide which place to settle
Is it your place or his place? Perhaps it is more convenient and practical if you get a new place? This is an easy decision for many couples but if the living condition is almost the same, there are factors that you need to consider like commutes to work, neighborhood amenities, safety, restaurant, shopping and many more.
Step 3: Decide things to keep and donate
It was mentioned earlier the importance of getting rid of things because everything you keep likely adds to the cost of the move. Since you decided where to settle, keeping unnecessary things could also cost you more square footage – that means a waste of space.
Step 4: Hire Movers
For many, they prefer DIY in the hopes of saving money. While it is okay to DIY, it may not be the best solution especially if it is a long distance move. If you want a seamless and convenient moving, you should hire http://www.heavenlycaremoving.com/.
If you hire movers, you should expect that the price would be quoted according to the weight. This means that the heavier the load, the more expensive you have to pay. It is practical to get rid of a few large pieces. More importantly, you should decide which way to go based on how far the move will be.
When you move in together, you should expect an increased involvement in each other’s finances. To help you deal with money matters, here are some tips you should consider:
- Communication is the key: it may be a little bit uncomfortable opening up about your finances but it is something that you have to deal with. As with anything, communication is the key. You need to sit down and talk about your fears and worries about money. More importantly, talk about what you can afford and decide how you will pay the shared expenses.
- Lay down everything: you should also lay down your financial status from your income to your credit score, assets, personal loans, credit card debts, student loans, and even your investments.
